Los Angeles Lakers star center Dwight Howard is having an MRI on his right shoulder Monday morning, ESPN Los Angeles reported. Howard aggravated a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder during Sunday's loss to the Denver Nuggets. Despite the injury, Howard played 41 minutes and had a career-best 26 rebounds and scored 14 points with four blocks. "I would like to play but I just want to make sure that my shoulder is good to go," Howard said after the game with his shoulder wrapped in ice. "I don't want to injure myself to where I'm out for the season, so, I just got to go and see what happens at the MRI." The Lakers play at the Houston Rockets Tuesday and the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. Howard originally hurt the shoulder in the second half of the Lakers' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. "It wasn't as bad as last game, but like I said, I don't want to injure it to the point where I can't play," Howard said. Also, power forward Pau Gasol left Sunday's game with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter after taking an elbow from JaVale McGee to his nose. Gasol's nose is not broken and he is expected to play Tuesday. "I got hit," Gasol said. "I didn't see the replay, but it was not intentional. So, that's a good thing."

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